There is no doubt about it: the IOC does not intend to remain a passive witness in the battle between the IBA and World Boxing for the governance of Olympic boxing. The body has chosen its side. And it is making it known.
As proof, this letter dated September 30 sent by the IOC to all its national Olympic committees. Signed by James McLeod, the director of NOC relations and Olympic Solidarity, Kit McConnell, the director of sports, Kit McConnell (NZL), and Mariam Mahdavi, the legal advisor, it bluntly calls on the national Olympic committees to cut all ties with the national boxing federations still affiliated to the IBA.
« NOCs shall no longer affiliate or maintain institutional relations with national boxing federations that are still affiliated to the IBA", explains the IOC in its letter.
So much for the preamble. It is clear. It is not threatening, but it is directive enough to suggest that it would be wrong to think or act otherwise.
The rest remains in the same tone. The IOC recalls in its letter that boxing "not included in the sports program of the Olympic Games LA28. » It explains that the only way to reverse the process would be to be able to rely on a "international federation partner for boxing by the beginning of 2025." And specifies that this international federation has "recently emerged, but, as things stand, has not yet been recognised by the IOC."
Finally, the IOC warns without really mincing words: " It is therefore already clear that any boxer whose national federation adheres to the IBA will not be able to participate in the LA28 Olympic Games. The NOC concerned must exclude such a national boxing federation from its members."
That says it all. Clearly tired of seeing the IBA bombard it with criticism and accusations, the IOC is getting into battle formation. It is working to promote the growth of World Boxing, and at the same time the disappearance of the body chaired by the Russian Umar Kremlev.
Unsurprisingly, the IBA did not hold back its words in responding to the IOC's letter. In a statement published on Thursday, October 3, it referred to a " sports blackmail », describes the Lausanne approach as totally " unacceptable”, a " direct interference »in the agenda of its members. And it calls on its national federations to "stay calm and do not follow the intentions of the IOC which wants to harm boxing."
In its letter, the IOC does not mention World Boxing by name. But its message is clear enough to be understood and heard. Lausanne is not addressing the world of boxing directly either. It is taking a roundabout route, the national Olympic committees, its representatives at the national level. But it is equally clear that the pressure is now on the national boxing federations. They must make a choice. And make it quickly.
By remaining loyal to the IBA, whose financial generosity allows them to continue to exist in an often difficult economic context, they risk seeing the national Olympic committee turn its back on them. An untenable situation. By joining World Boxing, they remain within the framework of the Olympic movement, but without any guarantee of being able to balance their budget.
The French Boxing Federation, still in the IBA camp, has already announced that the issue will be discussed at the next board meeting. "The IOC has locked everything down. So either we take new directions or we die," said to L'Equipe its president, Dominique Nato.
What will the others do? An extraordinary congress of the Asian Boxing Confederation is called for November 23 in Bangkok. With only one agenda: stay in the IBA or join World Boxing. The question will be submitted to a vote by the member countries. A first vote, organized by the body on August 31 in Saudi Arabia, had produced a result in favor of the IBA. With such pressure from the IOC, it would be surprising if the decision of the Asian countries remained the same.
World Boxing currently has 44 national federations. Still too few to hope for recognition from the IOC. But the Olympic body is reaching out to it. And it is sparing no effort to clear the way for it.
